Yarn tensioning device



Dec. 10, 1940. I H HOWORTH 2,224,29

YARN TENS IONING DEVICE Filed Feb. 19. 1958 INVENTOR Harmon HoworrhPatented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES YARN TENSIONING DEVICE HarmonHoworth, Cumberland, Md., assignor to Celanese Corporation of America, acorporation of Delaware.

Application February 19, 1938, Serial No. 191,438

4 Claims.

This invention relates, to a tensioning device, and relates moreparticularly to a device for applying tension to individual yarns,threads and like filamentary textile materials.

6 It is an object of this invention to provide an improved tensiondevice which is simple and durable in construction, eflicient inoperation and inexpensive in cost.

A further object of this invention is the provil sion of an improvedtension device for use in warping from coned or cheesed cap-spunpackages of yarn or thread.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tension device suitablefor use with low twist yarn 15 or thread.

Other objects of this invention, together with certain details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, will appear from the followingdetailed description and the appended claims.

20 Tension devices of the type contemplated by the instant invention, asheretofore commonly constructed, included a pulley around which the yarnor thread was bent and which the yarn or thread tracti'vely engaged.Such tension devices 25 were unsuitable for use with low twist yarns orthreads, 1. e., yarns or threads lacking sumcient twist to bind thefilaments, since they would be trapped and stripped by the pulley. Thetension device of the present invention is so con- 30 structed andarranged that no wrapping of the yarn or thread about the tension pulleyis necessary to apply the desired uniform tension thereto for thepurpose of levelling out any tension irregularities in the yarn orthread.

35 The tension device of the present invention is adapted to be mountedon a cr eel or other suitable support for the yarn or thread package,one for each yarn or thread to be drawn therefrom. According to theinstant invention the tension 40 device comprises a plate on which aresupported the means for applying the desired tension to the yarn orthread, one of said tension applying means being a pulley which isadjustably mounted with respect to the other tension applying means andwhich is carried on ball-bearings for free running under all atmosphericconditions.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, particularly,with reference to the drawing wherein the preferred embodiment of myinven- 50 tion is shown. It is to be understood, however, that thisdescription is given by way of example only and is in no way limitative.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my tension device; 55 Fig.2 is a front elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along line 33 in Fig. 1 but drawn on a largerscale, and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional viewtaken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2 but drawn ona larger scale than Fig. 2. 5

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawing.

Reference numeral 5 designates a plate made of any suitable metal. Thisplate is supported on a creel or the like (not shown), carrying the 7packages from which the yarn or thread 6 is drawn, by meansof a bracket(not shown) so designed as to fit with a wedge-fit into slot 1 formed inthe bottom of plate 5. The plate 5 has depending therefrom and integraltherewith a leg 5 8, the purpose of which will hereinafter be set forthv In the top of plate 5 is fixed an upright pin 9 on which are threadedfrusto-conical disks II which are centrally apertured. The disks arearranged on pin 9 so that their lesser faces are in abuttingrelationship, and their margins are diverging whichfacilitates the entryof the yarn or thread between the said disks.

A spindle I2 is provided at its lower end with a portion bent at rightangles thereto, which portion is pivotally mounted in a bearing l3 inthe lower extremity of leg 8. The free end of the spindle carries aguide l4 of porcelain or other suitable material, and a weight [5 whichtends to force the spindle and guide to the left as shown in Fig. 3. Thespindle I2 is adapted to rock in bearing I3, this rocking being'limitedon one side by a projection IS on a metallic strip l1, and on the otherside by a side-wall N3 of a cut-out portion IS in an insulator 2|. Themetal strip I1 is held in position by being clamped around insulator 2|at the points 22 and 23, and the insulator 2| is attached to theunderside of plate 5 by screws 24 and 25, washers 26 of rubber or any 40other suitable material being inserted between the insulator 2| andplate 5 110 space the same from each other. Screw 25 also passes throughan extension .21 of metal strip I1.

The screw 25 also serves to attach a bracket 28 to plate 5. This bracketis arranged to be at an angle to plate 5 and carries at its free end apulley 29. g The pulley 29 is mounted on a ball race 3| which isfastened to bracket 28 by means of a screw 32.

The projection I 6 may act as one terminal of a stop motion device beingconnected through arm 33, integral with metallic strip I I and itsextension 21, to means (notshown) for stopping the rotation of thedevice for drawing the yarn or thread from the supply thereof when thespindle I2 is allowed to fall to the position shown in Fig. 3.

In operation, for the purposeof applying the desired tension on the yarnor thread for, say, the subsequent warping operation, the yarn or thread6 is drawn from the supply package through a guide eye 34, of porcelainor any other suitable material, set in an upstanding ear 35 integralwith plate 5. The yarn or thread is passed between frusto-conical disksII in contact with pin 9, then through guide It, through guide eye 36,of porcelain or any other suitable material, fixed in an upstandingportion 31 integral with bracket 28, and finally in contact with thegroove in pulley 29 from which it goes into the warping machine. Thebracket 28 is arranged to be adjustable in a horizontal plane aboutscrew 25 for the purpose of adjusting the position of pulley 29. Tensionis applied to the yarn or thread by means of the uppermost of disks II(more disks may be added to increase the tension) and this tension isincreased by the subsequent contact of the thread successively with theguide I4, the guide eye 36, and the pulley 29. The total angle ofcontact of the thread 6, with these three elements is not substantiallyaltered by the adjustment in the horizontal plane of the bracket 28.However, the proportionate parts of that angle belonging, on the onehand to the guides l4 and 36, and on the other to the pulley 29, willvary with the adjustment of the bracket 28.

Since the increase in tension imparted by a given angle of contact withthe pulley 29 is much less than that imparted by an equal angle ofcontact with the guides i4 and 36 the ratio by which the tensionoriginally imparted by the disks H, is increased by the time the thread6 leaves, the device may be varied at will by the adjustment oi thebracket 26. Thus, a clockwise motion of the bracket from the positionshown in Figure 1 produces an increase of the angle of contact of thethread 6 with the pulley 29 and correspondingly increases the tensiondue to contact with the pulley. Simultaneously however, the angle ofcontact of the thread with the guides l4 and 36 is decreased by an equalamount, and this produces a much larger decrease of the tension in thethread.

While the yarn or threadis under draft, the spindle I2 is in theposition shown in Fig. 2. However, upon breakage or failure of the yarnor thread the weight l5, due to its construction and position on spindlel2,'causes the spindle to-tilt to the left, as shown in Fig. 3,contacting projection l6 thus closing the stop-motion circuit andeifecting stoppage of the warping device.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description anddrawing aregiven merely by way of illustration and that many variationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. In a tensioning device, a plate, means pulley apply further tensionto the yarn or thread and the adjustability of said bracket permits ofthe adjustment of the angles of contact of the yarn or thread with saidguide and said pulley respectively and thereby of the tension applied tothe yarn or thread by said guide and said pulley.

2. In a tensioning device, a plate, means mounted on said plate forapplying tension to a travelling yarn or thread, a guide adapted to actas a stop motion pivotally mounted on said plate, a bracket having oneend adjustably attached to said plate and a pulley adapted to contactthe yarn or thread mounted on the free end of said bracket, theconstruction and arrangement being such that said guide and said pulleyapply further tension to the yarn or thread and the adjustability ofsaid bracket permits of the adjust- -ment of the angles of contact ofthe yarn or thread with said guide and said pulley respectively andthereby of the tension applied to the yarn or thread by said guide andsaid pulley.

3. In a tensioning device, a plate, a pair of frusto-conical discs forapplying tension to a yarn or thread travelling therebetween, a guideadapted to act as a. stop motion pivotally mounted on said plate, abracket adjustably attached to said plate, a ball race carried by saidbracket and a pulley adapted to contact the yarn or thread mounted onsaid ball race, the construction and arrangement being such that saidguide and said pulley apply further tension to the yarn or thread andthe adjustability of said bracket permits of the adjustment of theangles of contact of the yarn or thread with said guide and said pulleyrespectively and thereby of the tension applied to the yarn or thread bysaid guide and said pulley.

4. In a tensioning device, a plate, means mounted on said plate forapplying tension to a travelling yarn or thread, a guide adapted to actas a stop motion pivotally mounted on said plate, a bracket adjustablyattached to said plate, a pulley mounted on said bracket and adapted tocontact the yarn or thread, and a second guide between said firstmentioned guide and said pulley, said second guide being fixed on saidbracket so as to conduct the yarn or thread to said pulley, theconstruction and arrangement being such that said guides and said pulleyapply further tension to the yarn or thread and the adjustability ofsaid bracket permits of the adjustment of the angles of contact of theyarn or thread with said guides and said pulley respectively and therebyof the tension applied to the yarn or thread by said guides and saidpulley.

